Catfish are a hugely popular prey for anglers across the United States, and luckily, the fish is widely available. However, in Florida, catfish fishing can be even better than many other locations in the country, mostly because of the weather conditions maintaining warm waters throughout the year, which produce fertile spawning grounds for catfish.
In Florida, however, you’ll find a different variety of catfish than in many other areas of the country.
Florida catfish fishing is most likely to produce either yellow bullhead catfish (referred to frequently as buttercats) or brown bullheads. While these are not the largest species of catfish in the world (usually ranging from about one to four pounds), they are plentiful in Florida.
In the same size range, though less common, you may come across white catfish in some of the rivers to the north of Lake Okeechobee (in fact, these are often mistaken for channel cats because of their size and appearance). Other than these, the common channel catfish is also widely found in Florida. These fish are found in almost every type of body of water and can reach enormous sizes, with a world record of 60 pounds.
Also, while not native to the area, flathead and blue catfish (the two largest species) have made their way into the panhandle.
While good Florida catfish fishing can be found statewide, there are certain areas of the state that have a high concentration of catfish and provide the best opportunity for anglers in search of whiskered fish.
For example, The St. Johns River Basin is a great place to find a great number of yellow and brown bullheads, as well as some channel cats and white catfish. The best portion of the river for a good catch lies between Lake George and the Buckman Bridge at Orange Park on Interstate 295. However, for the best catfish fishing of all, pay a visit to Lake George itself.
While the lake is only about 14 feet deep, you’ll find a large number of bullheads and channel cats. Look for your trophy fish in he grass beds around the edges of the lake, or find channel cats in piled up structures offshore at depths of at least five or six feet. You may also want to check the various holes, some of which reach as deep as 20 feet or more, for larger channel and white cats.
Another great location for Florida catfish fishing is Oklawaha River. Here, you can expect success below Rodman Dam, as well as at Black Creek in the Middleburg area. Because of the amount of timber, the number of holes, and the twists and turns of these systems, you can find a decent number of channel cats year-round, with excellent results occurring in the early part of summer.
.
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on Florida catfish fishing here: www.askcatfishfishing.com
Fishing the Great Lakes:
Together the Great Lakes contain the biggest mass amount of freshwater in the world. These lakes lie between the United States and Canada.
They are home to many different fish species. Some of the most common inhabitants of the Great Lakes are the various species of Trout, Salmon, Perch, and Bass. However, each lake is known for its own popular fish species.
For over 100 years these lakes have housed the world?s largest freshwater fisheries, containing both native and introduced species. Commercial fishing has declined in the past 100 years, but still relies heavily of the fish of the Great Lakes. On each lake there are fishing charters that go out of the many ports each day.
Lake Michigan:
The waters of Lake Michigan vary according to the area. The northern part of the lake is colder and less developed than the other lakes. Around Chicago and Milwaukee, the lake temperatures are warmer and the area is heavily developed. Lake Michigan offers nearly 100 different species of fish, the most popular being Salmon and Steelhead. Other fish located here are Alewife, Bowfin, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bloater, White Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Chinook Salmon, Lake Herring, Coho Salmon, Northern Pike, and White and Yellow Perch. Some of the ports and marinas of Lake Michigan are; Port Sheldon, Benton Harbor, Chicago, Winthrop Harbor, Frankfurt, Aradia, and Grand Haven.
Lake Huron:
The second largest of the Great Lakes, Lake Huron is located on the US-Canada border. A popular port on Lake Huron is Port Austin, where the Trout fishing is said to be the best in the world. There are also many other freshwater fish such as; Bass, Whitefish, Salmon, Steelhead, Walleye, Perch and Brown Trout. Lake Huron also has underwater ledges and deep water reefs that are bursting with fish. Ports and marinas located on Lake Huron are; Port Elgin, Port Huron, Port Austin, Port Franks, Grand Bend, and Saginaw Bay.
Lake Superior:
Lake Superior is the largest of all of the Great Lakes, and has the most surface area of any lake in the world. This lake holds enough water to submerge both North and South America under 1 foot of water. It is the coldest and deepest, reaching over 1,300 ft in depth. With most of the land surrounding still left as forest, it is not heavily populated. There are more than 60 different fish species located in Lake Superior. Some of these species include; Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Bloater, Carp, Chinook Salmon, Lake Herring, Coho Salmon, Lake Sturgeon, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Rainbow Smelt, Ruffe, Round Whitefish, Smallmouth Bass, and White and Yellow Perch. Some of the marinas and ports located on Lake Superior are; Port Wing, Duluth Seaway Port, Twin Ports, St. Louis Bay, and Presque Isle Marina.
Lake Erie:
Lake Erie produces the most fish of all of the Great Lakes, and is the second smallest. The most prized game fish of this lake is the Chinook Salmon, also known as the ?King Salmon?, recording up to 47? and 44lbs. Lake Erie also houses Yellow Perch, Coho Salmon, Brown Trout, Carp, Lake Herring, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, Walleye, and Yellow and White Perch. It is said that there are Jumbo Perch now in Lake Ontario. Some of the popular marinas and ports of Lake Erie are; Port Clinton, Port Stanley, Port of Monroe, and Port of Erie.
Lake Ontario:
Lake Ontario, best known for its salmon and trout fishing, is located between Upstate New York and Canada. There are several different species located in this lake; Atlantic Salmon, Carp, Brown Trout, Chinook Salmon, Coho Salmon, Lake Herring, Lake Trout, Lake Whitefish, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Rock Bass, Smallmouth Bass, White Bass, and White and Yellow Perch. This lake holds many species that are unique to the area and not found in the other Great Lakes. These species include; Atlantic Salmon, American Eel, Bullheads, and Sunfish. The actual fishing season starts as soon as the ice melts. Most of the fishing in the spring takes place near the shore where the waters are warmer. The best trout fishing is in April, May and June. Once July hits, it is time to fish for Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, and steelhead. These are located farther into the lake. There are numerous fishing charters at the local Lake Ontario ports. Kingston, Little Sodus Bay, Niagara River, Oswego, Sackets Harbor and Port Dalhousie and a few of the ports surrounding Lake Ontario.
For the competitive angler; there are many fishing tournaments scheduled year round on the Great Lakes. Most occur during the spring, summer and fall months because of the ice on the lakes and the frigid temperatures in the winter. Once you have reeled in your prize winning fish, SellUrBoat.com offers helpful tips to clean and preserve your catch.
.
Kristy Bateman is the writer for Earl’s Blog on SellUrBoat.com.. These articles are unique and helpful to anyone interested in learning about boating and or fishing. Please visit SellUrBoat.com to view a variety of unique articles from Kristy. SellUrBoat.com is The Simplest Solution to Buying and Selling ‘Ur’ Boat.
Fly fisherman are taking over the craft world by storm. Sure, no one wants to decorate his walls with flies, except maybe a fisherman, but with their creativity in gear, fly fishermen are genuinely creating tiny, functional works of art that literally bring dinner to the table.
Fly fisherman have been engaged in tying their own flies for years. They do so for a couple of reasons, both practical and creative. At times, tying your own fly can really save you some money. In the end you have to ask yourself if the time spent tying a fly is worth the money saved. Additionally, fly tying will give a fisherman his needed creative fix as he can use whatever colors and materials he deems necessary to lure a fish unto his hook.
Fly tying requires very few but important tools, primarily among them, a vise. The vise, also spelled vice works almost like pliers in creating the fly. You can find the necessary fly tying tools like thread, scissors, a whip finisher, and bodkin, at specialized fly stores, outdoor stores, and even, now, online suppliers.
As you consider your vise, try not to fall into the trap of searching for the cheapest one. Because like many things, you will get what you pay for. And you need a good vise if you plan on creating some beautiful and functional ties. Typically a vise can run you anywhere from $20 to $400. Avoid your $20 vices. They will not last you nearly long enough, and they will even malfunction and possibly ruin the good work youve done on a decent fly.
Make sure that your vise can accommodate all kinds of hooks. For example, saltwater and freshwater hooks are much different. Freshwater is smaller, and thus not all vises can work with this type of hook. Always asks questions as you shop, because after all, if youre planning on putting a few hundred dollars down on a small device, you want what you pay for.
One of the more interesting devices available on the market is the vice that can rotate a fly 360 degrees, so you can literally work on any part of it thanks to this big holder. These kinds of vises have the potential to empty your bank account, though, so novices should consider a less expensive device before investing in this hobby.
In the end, you only need a few tools to create a great fly and a lot of imagination. But the best imagination in the world can easily be hampered by sub par tools, so look for the best that you can afford, and start creating.
.
Resources of fly fishing can be found at: www.excitingflyfishing.comand here
When seeking out various types of fish, it’s good to have some general knowledge about not only that particular species’ preferred habitat but also about its habits, food preferences, and lifestyle in general.
While it’s not common for humans to think about animals and fish having a “lifestyle”, the idea is quite important to determining the best tactics to use in hunting or fishing for a species. This is definitely true of certain types of catfish, especially flathead catfish. Fishing for catfish is a popular sport throughout the United States, but tactics for catching different types of catfish vary greatly.
For example, most catfish are considered to be opportunistic feeders. This means that they are literally scavengers, seeking out the easiest meals they can find. They’ll eat other hunters’ “leftovers” - pieces of dead fish and other bits and bobbles - to avoid having to hunt down food. They’ll survive off insects and invertebrates native to their waters, and they’ll even eat plants to satisfy their hunger.
However, flatheads are different, meaning that flathead catfish fishing requires a different approach.
Flatheads, which may also be referred to as mud cats, shovelhead cats, johnnie cats, yellow cats, Mississippi cats, and Opelousa cats, are not simply scavengers. While they would not turn down an opportunistic meal, they are predators and prefer to hunt down live fish.
They are also one of the largest breeds of catfish around, growing regularly to sizes of three or four feet in length and weighing up to 100 pounds. Therefore, unlike many smaller species of catfish, you’ll need heftier equipment and specialized bait to attract these monsters.
Flathead catfish fishing requires live bait. In fact, the live bait you use should be sizeable in order to attract the flatheads because they do not appreciate a small meal. While you can use invertebrates, like worms, you will have to stuff your hook with several night crawlers to increase your chances of drawing in a flathead.
More useful bait would consist of large minnows or small shad and carp, as these are typically included in their diet anyway. If you choose not to use live bait to attract a flathead catfish, fishing with stink bait is probably the only way to attract your catch. This works on occasion because catfish find food mostly based on smell rather than sight, and large chicken livers or other rotting stink bait foods will permeate the water and drawn in your prey.
.
Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on flathead catfish fishing here: www.askcatfishfishing.com
